A new approach to treating CMD<\/p>\n
At present, women who are told they have CMD are offered symptom-relieving medications that were developed for men with obstructive coronary artery disease.<\/p>\n
The trial led by A\/Prof. Howden will test whether two safe and accessible treatments \u2013 transdermal oestrogen and structured exercise training \u2013 can repair the damaged microcirculation and restore women’s quality of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur trial will investigate whether treating oestrogen deficiency in post-menopausal women, combined with structured exercise, can improve the function of the heart\u2019s smallest blood vessels,\u201d A\/Prof. Howden said.<\/p>\n
Over 16 weeks, 132 post-menopausal women across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide will receive one or both treatments, with advanced cardiac MRI used to measure the effect on the smallest heart vessels.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf RESTORE shows that transdermal oestrogen and structured exercise can repair the heart\u2019s smallest blood vessels and improve symptoms, it could lead to the first female-specific treatment for a condition that affects millions of women worldwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would also change the way CMD is understood and treated from a condition often dismissed as \u2018nothing serious\u2019, to one that can be actively managed.\u201d<\/p>\n
A\/Prof. Howden said that receiving support from Wellcome Leap’s VISIBLE programme was transformative.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor decades, coronary microvascular dysfunction has been one of the clearest examples of how women’s cardiovascular disease has been overlooked. It affects the majority of women with chest pain and clear arteries, yet not a single approved treatment targets its underlying biology.<\/p>\n
\u201cVISIBLE provides the resources to change that, and just as importantly, brings our research into a global community working on the same problem with shared data and shared research protocols. For the field more broadly, this signals something overdue \u2013 women’s cardiovascular health is now a scientific priority of the highest order, not a sub-speciality concern.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wellcome\u2019s VISIBLE program<\/p>\n
Wellcome Leap\u2019s VISIBLE program is focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment of coronary microvascular disease in women and reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n
The initiative aims to dramatically increase the number of women with stable angina who receive accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for CMD, while maintaining reliable detection of obstructive coronary artery disease<\/p>\n
Professor Cheryl Jones, Dean of UNSW Medicine & Health, congratulated A\/Prof. Howden on securing the highly competitive Wellcome funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cCMD has too often gone unrecognised and undertreated in women. By investigating this female-specific treatment approach for this condition, the RESTORE trial has the potential to transform care for millions of women worldwide and position Australia at the forefront of women\u2019s heart health research.\u201d<\/p>\n